Fire-escape.



PATENTBD MAR. 22, 1904.

' N. LARSBN FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

3 u uenfoz q/Vi u use:

' No. 755,501.- PATENTED MAR. 22,1904.

N. LARSBN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30' 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEET8-'BHEET 2.

a E a I 4 E Witness Patented March 22, 1904.

UNITED STATES "P TENT FFICE.

NELS LARSEN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. N. GRANTZ, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of .Letters Patent No. 7 55,501 dated March 22, 1904.

Application filed August 30, 1902.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, N ELS LARSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fire-escapes, and especially to that class of devices whereby the user is lowered'to the street by means of a belt and cable; and the object of my invention is to produce a device which will be ready for use at a moments notice, which will not require any special skill in manipulating, and in which the speed of the cable can be regulated by the person descending, by some one on the street, or by a person remaining at the window adjacent which the escape may be attached.

The construction of my device is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my fireescape, showing the brake-line dropped to the ground and the belt at the end of the cable. Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking toward the right in Fig. l and showing position of the parts when not in use. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the brake-shoe, and Figs. 5, 6, 7 are detail views of the brake-shoe.

In carrying out my invention I employ a substantially U-shaped frame A, adapted to be secured to or built in the wall of a house and having suitable braces A and a vertical bar A the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

As' any suitable frame to support my mechanism can be used, it is not deemed necessary to describe that shown in detail. Journaled in suitable boxings B, carried by the frame, is a shaft B, which carries a drum B around which is coiled a cable of fireproof rope B or a chain, if preferred. At one end this shaft projects beyond the boxingand carries a pinion B*, adapted to mesh with a removable gearwheel B carried by a stub-shaft 13 and turned by a handle B this wheel being shown in operating position in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The rear member of the frame A carries a Serial No. 121,650. (No model.)

block O, having upwardly-projectinglugs O, between which are pivotally secured the brake-bar O bearing on the roughened flange B of the drum. Mounted on this bar is aboX (3*, which serves as a receptacle for storing certain parts to be described hereinafter. Positioned in this boX is a stub-shaft O on which the gear-wheel B is slipped when not in use.

Positioned on the rear of the frame and supported by a bracket, one member of which is shown at D, Fig. 8, is the reel D, carrying a brake-line D which is coiled around the reel, the free end being secured to the outer end of the brake-bar O as shown at D where it is illustrated as being perforated and the line passed through it and knotted at the end.

On the box B on the side opposite the brakebar is a block E, having upwardly-extending lugs E. Between these lugs rises athreaded rod E A block E perforated at E", works on this rod and slides vertically between the lugs. On the inner side of this block and integral with it is the brake-shoe E, which projects over the flange D, which, like the flange B is roughened in order that the brake-shoe may have a firmer grip.

The under surface of the brake-shoe is concaved, so that it will encircle the flange for some distance and insure asuflicient brakingsurface. A handle E somewhat in the form of a thumb-screw and having an enlarged perforated and threaded central portion, fits on the rod over the block and serves to regulate the tension of the brake-shoe. These parts are all shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 and are shown assembled in Fig. 4.

Secured to the front end of the cable B is the belt F, carrying hook members F at one end and two parallel rows of eyes F adapted to engage the hook members.

When not in use, the device may be covered by any suitable means, and with the exception of the belt, cable, and brake bar and shoe the device is preferably formed of metal, the brake bar and shoe being of wood.

The operation of my device is as follows: The person using the escape fastens the belt under the arms. and, having first lifted the reel carrying the brake-line from its bracket and dropped it to the ground, steps on the frame and lowers himself over, holding the brake-line with one hand and to the bar A with the other, then permitting his weight to come as much as possible or necessary on the brake-line commences the descent, the cable unrolling as rapidly as permitted by the brakes. Should there be any one on the ground below, they may regulate the brakebar by means of the line, or should there be another person left at the window they may regulate the speed of the drum by the brakeshoe E. It will thus be seen that the mechanism may be regulated by the brakes from three pointsviz., by the person descending, from the ground, and from the window. For example, should there be children to be lowered and no one be on the ground below the speed could be regulated from the window by the brake-shoe independently of the brake-bar.

Where more than one person is to descend, the cable may be wound up for a second use by placing the gear-wheel B" on the shaft B.

It is obvious that the shape of the various parts comprising my device may be changed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A device of the kind described comprising a drum, a cable thereon, a recessed block arranged adjacent the drum, a threaded rod in the recess, a brake-shoe having a reduced portion resting in the recess and a curved portion extending over the drum, and a handle having a threaded bore working on the rod, and adapted to regulate the pressure of the shoe on the drum.

2. A fire-escape comprising a frame, boxings carried by the frame, a shaft carrying a flanged drum said shaft being journaled in the boxings, a block arranged on one of the boxes said block having upwardly-extending lugs, a vertical, threaded rod arranged between said lugs, a block adapted to slide on the rod between thelugs, a brake-shoe carried by the slidable block and adapted to engage the periphery of the flange, and a handle having a centrally-arranged, threaded perforation, said handle being adapted to work on the threaded rod and force the brake-shoe into engagement with the flange.

NELS LARSEN.

Witnesses:

(J. E. HILLSTROM, MILLIE AMoN. 

